SAN MARCOS – Texas State football coach Brad Wright announced the hiring of as the Bobcats’ new co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach on Monday.

Bleil, 58, comes to San Marcos after spending the 2007 season coaching linebackers at Tulane. The Green Wave led Conference-USA in rushing defense, allowing 132.6 yards per game, and finished fourth in total defensive yards allowed. Tulane was also second in first downs allowed and tied for third in the conference in sacks.

“We’re really excited to get someone with his knowledge and experience here at Texas State,” said Wright.

Bleil’s will pair with co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Kyle Tietz to prepare the Bobcats’ weekly defensive game plan and will also call in the defensive plays on game day.

Before joining the Green Wave staff, Bleil was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at North Texas in his second stint with the Mean Green. Bleil also spent two terms as the director of the Mean Green defense after leading one of the Big West’s top units in 1997 and 1998.

Under Bleil, North Texas finished in the top three in the conference in scoring defense in both years, and ranked second in the league in pass defense in 96. Two-time NFL Pro Bowler Brian Waters was an All-Big West selection for Bliel’s Mean Green defense, as were three other North Texas players in that two-year span.

Between his times at North Texas, Bleil coached the secondary at San Diego State for eight seasons and the special teams for three. Under his direction, the Aztec secondary became a force in the Mountain West and across the nation. SDSU improved from 86th in the country in pass defense in 2002 to fourth in 2003. Aztec cornerbacks ranked first and second in the MWC in 2003 in passes defended and third for interceptions.

Bleil was also the defensive coordinator at New Mexico from 1992 to 1995. In four seasons with the Lobos, Bleil helped improve the defense from one of the worst in the nation to one of the best in the WAC.

Bleil served defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Utah State from 1986-91, and was the head coach at New Mexico Highlands from 1979 to 1982. He earned Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors when he led Highlands to the 1981 conference crown. He was also honored as the AFCA College Division Coach of the Year.

He played football at Northern Iowa in 1967 and went on to earn his degree at Westmar College in 1971. Bleil then added a master’s degree to his resume in 1972 from Eastern New Mexico.